Biomedical engineering, medical engineering and bioengineering (BioMedEng) are often defined as the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for the purpose of improving healthcare. For companies innovating in this exciting sector, it is essential to factor intellectual property (IP) into your business plan to maximise the return on your investment. In particular, you would be well-advised to ensure that you identify and protect your IP, and also to ensure that you do not encounter conflicts with third-party IP. It is also important to understand some of the potential issues that might present themselves at an early stage, which might otherwise preclude your ability to secure the IP protection you desire, such as ownership and the risks posed by disclosure.
The BioMedEng Association is therefore pleased to recommend the intellectual property (IP) services of Gill Jennings & Every LLP, one of the UK’s top IP firms, who are pleased to support the BioMedEng community. Whatever your technical innovation, brand name or design, GJE will have an expert with the necessary qualification and experience to advise you.
About Gill Jennings & Every (GJE)
Committed to doing business the right way, with integrity, expertise and intelligence, GJE is recognised among the UK’s top 20 law firms to work for and has recently been top-ranked on the Financial Times’ leader board of best firms in “Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2022”.
We take pride in providing world-class IP protection with a high quality service. We get to know you, what you want to achieve and how you like to work, to ensure that you get the maximum value from your IP. The emphasis we place on service and on creating a strong working relationship ensures you receive the highest possible value for money. We have dedicated teams staffed by expert patent and trade mark attorneys who have decades of experience developing and implementing tailored IP strategies to help ambitious and innovative BioMedEng companies of all sizes achieve commercial success.
How might GJE help your business?
GJE provides a comprehensive patents, trade marks and designs service to ensure your innovation stays secure. We are known for our problem-solving and commercially-minded approach, together with our ability to give clear business advice in the face of complex European legal issues. Our clients range from spin out/early stage companies, SMEs, UK and other European corporates through to major multi-national organisations.
Patents: Protecting your technical innovation is essential if you are to prevent others from taking advantage of your R&D investment.Seeking patent protection for your innovations can therefore significantly increase the value of your business, and often proves to be key to securing investment. In addition, having a patent can be a useful marketing device and helps to keep competitors at arm’s length.Not least, a patent can be used to apply a reduced 10% rate of corporation tax on related profits via the HMRC Patent Box Scheme. We combine our legal expertise with an ability to understand your business plan, the competitive landscape you operate in and your specific technologies in order to draft and advise on commercially valuable patents.
Trade Marks: A strong brand identity is what sets you apart from the competition and the right brand strategy can often be the deciding factor in the commercial success of your business – not least when it comes to an exit strategy. However, in order to maximise the value in your brand, you need to think strategically, making sure your IP and wider business aims are fully aligned. We can help protect your business with a tailor-made strategy which reflects and supports your commercial aims.
Designs: In many industries, a product’s appearance is just as important as how it functions – and sometimes even more so. Not only can the appearance of a product cause a consumer to select that product over those of competitors, but it can become a defining part of a brand’s identity. As a result, companies now spend a huge amount of money in creating the right look for their product. Designs are IP rights that exist to protect that investment. We can help you to find the most appropriate routes to obtain the design protection you need.
Freedom to Operate: When planning to launch a new product or brand, a risk exists that a competitor may hold existing IP rights that you infringe. To minimise your potential liability, it is usually prudent to consider the risk from existing IP rights before launch. We can help you understand and mitigate the risks that may exist for your product or brand and help avoid legal problems later down the line.
Free initial IP consultations
GJE are offering a free initial IP consultation to each member of the BioMedEng Association. An IP consultation provides an opportunity to discuss your business’ IP innovations and IP strategy in confidence with an expert IP attorney. Common topics include:
- What are the benefits of registered IP protection?
- What IP protection is suitable for your innovation/business?
- e.g. patents, trade marks, designs, know-how and/or trade secrets
- What are the typical costs and timescales involved?
- How do you address any ownership issues, for example, due to your technology being developed in cooperation with a third party?
In our experience, such IP consultations can be very useful for those involved in innovation; they can provide some essential initial guidance to early-stage companies seeking to lay the foundations of a robust IP strategy, and can address any IP concerns relating to potential investors or third parties.
If you are a BioMedEng member, who would like to take advantage of a complimentary IP consultation with an IP expert at GJE, please submit your details here.
If you are not yet a BioMedEng member, and would like to speak with an IP expert at GJE to discuss your IP needs, please submit your details here.
Speak to IP experts at Gill Jennings & Every, including:
Graham Spenceley, Partner, European and UK Patent Attorney
Graham works with innovative technology companies across the UK and overseas, helping them to identify and secure appropriate protection for their products, processes and innovations in a wide range of technical fields, including biomedical and medical engineering. Within the BioMedEng sector, Graham has gained considerable experience and expertise relating to medical devices and equipment, diagnosis and monitoring devices, and prosthesis over the years, a lot of which he gained working in-house for Teva Pharmaceutical, a global pharma firm. As such, in addition to being highly skilled in securing robust IP protection via drafting and prosecuting patent and design applications, Graham has substantial experience in managing large patent portfolios, advising on freedom to operate (FTO) matters, providing infringement and validity opinions, defending invalidity actions and advising on trade secrets. Graham graduated from Loughborough University with a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering. He went on to obtain his MSc in Management of Intellectual Property from Queen Mary, University of London.
Ross Cummings, Partner, European and UK Patent Attorney
Ross’ areas of specialism are mainly in the biotechnology, bioengineering, diagnostics and therapeutics fields but he also assists clients in the medical device field. He has particular experience in cell and gene therapy, immuno-oncology, genetic engineering, drug delivery and implantable devices. Ross works with a diverse range of clients, including UK and EU-based Small to Medium Enterprises, UK universities, and large multinational companies. Notable clients include a Danish university spin out developing therapeutics for diabetes-related disorders, a UK university spin out developing cancer vaccines, a UK university spin-out developing cardiac diagnostics, a multinational household name in food products and a UK company developing drug delivery systems. Ross graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an Honours Degree in Medical Microbiology and went on to obtain a PhD in Molecular Biology/Biochemistry from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine studying malaria.
Chris Poll, Associate, European and UK Patent Attorney
Chris works with clients in a variety of subject areas across the engineering, electronics and software industries. With a particular interest in the BioMedEng sector, Chris has experience working on diagnosis and monitoring devices, such as respiratory monitors and devices for urine analysis, and medical devices including replacement heart valves, catheters, aspirators and surgical hand-pieces, and pacemakers. Chris’ work involves drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications, managing client portfolios, providing strategic IP advice, FTO analysis, and attending EPO hearings. Chris graduated from the University of Surrey with a BSc (Hons) in Physics and an MSc (Dist) in Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronic Devices. Chris went on to complete a PhD in Materials Science at Imperial College London.
Alexander Norden, Trainee Patent Attorney
Alexander is currently training to qualify as a patent attorney, working GJE’s IT and Engineering Group. With specialism in the physics and mechanical engineering fields, Alexander works with a range of clients ranging from individual inventors to large multinational companies, both in the UK and internationally. Such clients include a large UK technology consultancy, a world leading toy manufacturer and one of the world’s major wind turbine companies. Alexander studied at Oxford University where he received a Master’s degree in physics.